Because none of those guys are what you described them as. Price stats objectively look fine. 3.2 war, 3.19 fip etc. except he pitches like a loser, unable to get big outs in close games. His best pitching this year has come when team is way ahead or when he's fallen behind early in games.
Pomeranz jury is out but nothing I've seen in his starts suggests he's a top of the rotation guy. His stuff is average except when gets his curve over, his fastball control is below average and he looks like he is afraid of the spotlight. Should be fun watching him against Toronto and Baltimore. He was acquired after 4 months of quality career pitching as a starter.
Smith was an high injury risk. He got injured.
Kimbrel is not a guy I will ever trust because he can't control his fastball. And he's been very mediocre this year. And now is hurt.
DD spent $40m on price and clay. Was that a good use of money? We're any of these moves good? Not his fault because he was unlucky or because he made mistakes. Sorry, but any buffoon could have done these moves (outspend or overpay) and none of them has proven prescient. Blame scouts who got every one of these wrong so far?
The Sox are getting 18+ WAR from six players who combined don't make $4m. And are getting great seasons from Porcello, Pedroia and Ortiz. Those players alone if you annualize their seasons and add replacement level to rest of the team (40 wins) gets you to 86-88 wins). Yet it feels like the sox will be lucky to keep their current pace to win 89 games. I guess what I'm saying is that DD inherited 9 players who this year would win 87 games with 16 replacement level teammates and they are on pace to win 89. And he traded two top 30 prospects, two other Sox top 15 prospects, added $60m in payroll for those two wins.
It's incredible a team that has mookie, x, JBJ, Ortiz, shaw, Pedroia, and wright under contract for barely $35m is not a front runner to win its division and league.